Wire connector



April 23, `1940. M. D. BERGAN l 2.198262 WIRE CONNECTOR' y l Filed June 25, 1958 3 SheetsfSheet 1 3 lNvENToR ATToRNEs O ro April 23, 1940. M, DI BERGAN 2,198,262

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed June` 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG, lo

Flag INVENTOR MARTIN D. B RGAN 23, v1940. M. D. BERGAN vv2,198,262

' Y WIRE' CNNECTOR Filed June 25, 1958 y s sheets-sheets Q o o 0.3.1.

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MARTN D. BERGAN Patented pr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thomas & Betts Co. poration of New Jersey Elizabeth, N. J., a cor- Application June 25, 1938, Serial No. 215,758

12 Claims.

The invention relates to a wire connector which secures and electrically connects together a main cable or wire and a tap-ofi cable or wire for an electrical branch connection with the main cable.

5 The invention relates particularly t'o a wire connector of the hinge type in which one or more' parts is hinged together so that all parts are held together against separation, and yet the hinged parts can be opened so that the wires or cables 1G connector, after which the hinged part or parts is pivoted to its or their closed position and the wires or cables clamped. The invention contemplates the use of only one wire in some aspects of the construction to be described.

It is an object of the invention to construct a new and novel wire connector which effectively grips two wires or cables therein.

Another object of the invention is to construct a new and novel wire connector in which all of the parts are irremovably retained together so that insertion ol the wires within the connector is accomplished without separating one part from any other part 'of the wire connector.

Another object is to construct a new and novel wire connector which pivotally opens to permit one or more wires or cables to be inserted therein and which then can be closed and locked closed against inadvertent or accidental opening when one or more wires or cables is clamped therein.

A still further object is to construct a wire connector which applies a heavy clamping pressure to a large cable or wire therein and a substantially lesser pressure to a smaller cable or wire therein, which pressures are obtained by a single operating screw or bolt.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention, in which:

Figures l through 6 show one form of the wire connector of the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of the wire connector-with the hinged parts opened out so that wires or cables may be readily inserted therein and with a portion in section to show a cross bar.

Figure 2 is a top view of the wire connector of Figure 1, with a portion thereof in section taken on line 2-2 of that figure, and illustrates the form of a wire spacer which separates the wires or cables therein and the manner in which it is retained within the wire connector against separation therefrom.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the wire concan readily and conveniently be inserted `in the nector as viewed in Figure 1, and shows particularly the hinge for a side member and the operating screw by which the wires are clamped within the wire connector.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the opened wire 5 connector as taken from Figure 1 and shows the` side opening through which an angular tap-oli wire may project.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the wire connector in closed and locked position and gripping l a main cable and a tap-oli cable which is at right angles to the main cable.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the wire connector in closed position as in Figure and gripping a main cable and a tap-off cable therein.

Figures 7 through 11 illustrate a second form of the invention in which there is only one hinged member provided upon the wire connector.

Figure 7 is a side elevation oi the wire connector in open position ready to receive the wires or cables therein. A wire spacer, which is received between the wires, is shown in cocked position at the open end of the wire receiving frame in order to show that the same cannot be removed therefrom.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the wire connector of Figure 7 in open position and` with a locking pin,shown in spaced relation, for holding the hinged part in closed position.

Figure 9 is a top view oi the opened wire connector, as shown in Figure 7, and illustrates the couped cross form of the wire spacer.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the assembled wire connector gripping a main cable and a tapoiT cable, the latter being at right angles to the 35 main cable.

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the assembled wire connector of Figure 10 gripping a main cable and a tap-off cable.

Figures 12 through 16 illustrate a third form of the invention in which the wire receiving frame is hingedly opened and closed and the wire or cable spacer, which is receivedbetween the two wires or cables, is also hingedly connected with the frame of the wire connector.

Figure 12 is aside elevation of the wire connector with the parts opened ready to receive the wires or cables and with the operating screw or bolt in spaced relation.

Figure 13 is a top view of the wire connector in the opened position. of Figure 12. This View shows the hinge construction.

Figure 14 is a top view of the wire connector with a main cable or Awire placed therein and with the wire spacer swung upon its hinge into engagement with the cable. The closing member. which closes the open end of the frame. is in open position so that the wire connector is ready to receive a second or tap-off cable or wire.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of a completely assembled wire connector with the main cable or wire and the tap-off cable or wire clamped therein.

Figure 16 is a rear elevation of the wire connector wi-th the cables or wires clamped therein, and particularly shows the details of the hinge construction.

It is desirable in wire connectors that all of the parts be retained together so that an electrician when making an electrical connection will not be handicapped by having many separate parts to manipulate in addition to his tools, and thereby decrease substantially the possibility that a separate part or parts may be dropped. Such electrical connections are many times made at the tops of poles, high towers o1' buildings, and if all of the parts are retained together against separation, there s little likelihood of dropping any part. The wire connector illustrated and to be described herein, hingedly secures certain of the parts together and, in a manner to be described, irremovably retains other parts assembled so ,that no part is removable from the assembly, yet the wire connector can be fully opened for the ready insertion of wires or cables therein.

In the three forms of Wire connector illustrated in the drawings, each comprises a Wire receiving frame having a hinged member which opens and closes the frame for the insertion of one or more wires or cables therein. All forms also show a wire spacer, although it may be dispensed with. The wire spacer is received between the wires and is irremovably retained upon the frame in a manner to be described. Each of the three forms shown in the drawings illustrates a different way in which to irremovably retainl the Wire spacer upon the frame.

The first form of wire connector, illustrated in Figures 1 through 6, has a frame which includes a body or L-shaped member 20. A side member 2| is hingedly secured to one leg of the L-shaped body member 20 by the hinge pin 25. The side member preferably carries a stop 26 which engages the surface 2'| ofthe L-shaped member when the side member 2| has been pivoted to its closed position substantially parallel with the side of the L-shaped member. The L- shaped member and the side member in this parallel position form a U-shaped member.

An opening 30 is provided adjacent the free end of the side member 2| which leaves a cross bar 28 having an inclined side 3|. The cross bar and particularly the inclined side 3| thereof provide one element of a locking means for retaining the frame in closed or assembled relation, as will appear more fully hereinafter. A cable opening 29 is also provided through the side member so that a cable or wire may extend therethrough.

A closing member 22 is hingedly secured to one of the other members making up the frame and preferably is secured to the body or L-shaped member 20 at the other end thereof from the hinge pin 25. A hinge pin 32 pivotally secures the closing member to the-Lshaped member. The closing member is preferably arcuate in form so that its inner surface will form a wire groove or wire seat 33. The free end of the closing member has a book 34 formed by the notch 35. The hook 34 is narrower than the width of the closing member 20 and the side member 2| so that it can be received in the slot 21 adjacent the free end of the latter.

The cross bar 28 upon the side member 2| and the hook 34 upon the free end of the closing -member 22 provide locking means which locks the free ends of the two hinged members 2| and 22 against separation after they have been interengaged together and the wires or cables have been clamped therein. The closing member is hingedly secured to one of the other two members 20 or 2| which make up thewire receiving frame, and it is immaterial to which member it is hinged. The frame will be made up of three members hinged together with two free ends, and one part of the locking means is carried by the free end of one of the members of the frame, and the other partof the locking means is carried by the free end of the closing member.

A central clamping member or wire spacer 38 is received between the two wires or cables to be clamped within the wire connector. A wire seat 39 is provided upon one side thereof and a wire seat 40 is provided upon the other side thereof and preferably parallel therewith. A third wire seat 4| extends at an angle, and preferably at right angles, to the wire seat 40 and substantially in the same plane therewith. The central clamping member or Wire spacer is substantially in the form of a couped cross, as illustrated in Figure 2, so that the arms of the cross assist in movably retaining the wire spacer within the closed connector.

Means are provided to movably retain the wire spacer 38 in assembled relation with the other parts of the wire connector, even when the wire connector is opened for receiving the wires or cables therein. The retaining means for the rst form of construction comprises a projection or a projecting ear 44 upon each side and at the end of one of the arms of the couped cross which forms the Awire spacer. Normally the projections 44 extend outwardly. The arm of the wire spacer carrying the projections or ears 44 is inserted in the wire or cable opening 23 in the body member 2|), after which the projections are bent over so that they slidably engage the sides or guides 45 on the body member 20 and thereby retain the Wire spacer assembled on the body member and yet permit sliding movement thereupon at all times towards and away fromthe wire seat 33.

Operating means is carried by the frame in order to perform two functions, namely, to clamp the wires or cables within the wire connector, and, secondly, to latch the locking means formed by the bar 28 and the hook 34 so that when the wires or cables are clamped Within the connector, the frame is locked together in.closed position. The operating means includes an operating screw or bolt 48 which may be of the headless type. A hexagonal recess 49 isprovided in the end thereof for engagement with a wrench. The operating screw or bolt is preferably carried by the body member 2U in a threaded hole 50 which passes through the shorter side of the body or L-shaped member so that the clamping pressure exerted thereby is in alignment with the two Wires or cables to be received therein.

The operating screw 48 preferably carries a clamping plate 53 upon the end thereof and within the wire connector or frame. The clamping plate has a wire seat 54 which is parallel or approximately parallel with the wire seat 40 carried by the wire spacer 3B, and a second wire seat 85 which extends at an angle to the wire seat 54 and preferably at right angles thereto. The wire seat 55 is in the same plane as the wire seat 54. The clamping plate is irremovably secured to the end of the operating screw in any suitable manner such as by riveting. The operatlng screw 48 and the clamping plate 53 together form the operating means.

The wire connector just described is used in a manner now to be explained. The a sembly will rst be described in connection with a tapoll wire or cable to which extends at right anghes to the main cable C. The operating means s .first moved or screwed to its widest open position or adjacent the bottom of the U-shaped member. Themain cable C, which has the insulation removed from a part thereof, is then laid in contact with the wire seat 39, whereupon the side member 2| is pivoted or hinged into substantially parallel position with the side of the body member so that the body member and side member together form an open ended U-shaped member. The closing member 22 is pivoted upon its hinge pin 32 until it closes the open end of the wire connector, and the hook 34 is projected into the opening 21 so that each part of the locking means upon the two freeends of the side member and the closing member is interengaged. The wire connector is now hooked upon the main cable and both hands of the operator are free to insert the tap-off cable; The tap-off cable, which has the insulation removed from its end, is then projected through the opening 2 3 in the body member 29 so that it projects between the wire seats 4| and 55. The operating screw 48 is then rotated so that the two cables are clamped Within the connector. Upon clamping the cables within the wire connector, the main wire or cable C presses against the Wire seat 33 so that the closing member' 22 has outward pressure exerted thereagainst which locksl the hook 34 and bar 28 together, as illustrated in Figure 5.

It is clear that, if desired, the tap-off cable can be projected through the opening 29 in the hinged side member 2| in between the wire seats 4| and 55. In order to do this, however, the side member 2| must be pivoted into assembled position parallel with the side of the body member 20. Thereafter, the main'cable is inserted against the wire seat 39, and the closing member 22 is pivoted so that the hook 34 engages in the recess 30, after which tightening of the operating screw clamps the cables within the connector and locks the locking means against inadvertent or accidental opening.

For parallel assembly of the main cable and the tap-off cable, the main cable is inserted against the wire seat 39, the side member 2| is pivoted into parallel position with the side of the L-shaped member, and the closing member 22 is pivoted into closing position with the hook 34 engaging in the recess 3l), as previously described for right angular connection. The wire spacer 38 is then moved upwardly so that it is as far from the Wire seat 54 as it can be moved, whereupon the tap-off cable is inserted between the wire seats 48 and 54. The operating screw 48 is then tightened, whereupon the cables are clamped within the wire connector and the locking means are latched together against opening.

preferably integral or rigid. The U-sliaped mene ber has an opening or slot 6I on cach side thine ol'. which divides the U-shaped member into four projecting arms 62. The end of each arm has a hole 53. In one pair of holes 63 a hinge pin 64 is received.

A closing or hinged member 61 receives the hinge pin 64 in one end thereof. The other or free end of the hinged member carries a hole 68 which is brought into alignment with the holes 63 upon the ends of the arms 62 of the U-shaped member 60 when the hinged member is pivoted into closing posi-tion over the open end thereof. The inner surface of the hinged member 61 is preferably arcuate in order to form a grooved wire seat 69. The U-shaped member 6|] and theclosing member 61 together form a wire receiving frame and the closing member is retained in closed position by inserting the pin 10 through the holes 63 in the ends of the arms of the U-shaped member and the hole 68 in the closing member.

A wire spacer 14 has the form of a couped cross and the arms of the cross are received between the arms 62 of the U-shaped member so that the wire spacer is freely movable along the arms or towards either end of the wire receiving frame. The wire spacer carries a wire seat 15 upon one side thereof. A second wire seat 16 is provided on the other side of the Wire spacer and parallel with the wire seat 15. A third wire seat 11 is at an angle Aand preferably at right angles to the wire seat 16 and is preferably in the same plane therewith.

The wire spacer 14 has surfaces 18 long enough and the width between these surfaces approximates the dimension between the arms 82 so that no substantial cooking of the wire spacer can occur between the arms. The wire spacer so constructed cannot be removed from the wire connector or wire receiving frame after the hinged member 61 has been permanently secured to the U-shaped member 68 by means of the hinge pin 64. This is clearly illustrated in Figure '7 where one arm of the couped cross of the wire spacer 14 engages the end of the hinged member l 61 and the surfaces 18 prevent the wire spacer from being cocked between the arms 62, and hence it is impossible to remove the wire spacer from the open end of the U-shaped member when once the closing member 61 is permanently retained upon the U-shaped member. The wire spacer 14 cannot be removed even though the closing member 61 is in wide open position as illustrated in Figure '1.

Operatingmeans is carried by the frame to clamp a pair of wires or cables within the wire connector. The operating means is preferably carried by the U-shaped member at the closed end thereof. The operating means comprises a headless screw or bolt 82 which is threadedly received in a threaded hole 86 which passes through the closed end of the U-shaped member so that it projects into the frame. The operating screw preferably has a clamping plate 83 secured thereto in any suitable manner. This clamping plate may also be a couped cross and is movable between the arms 62. The clamping plate has a wire seat 84 and a second wire seat 85 at an angle thereto, preferably at right angles, and in substantially the same plane as the wire seat 84. These wire seats face toward the wire spacer 14 for cooperation with a wire seat thereupon.

The wire connector is used in a manner now to be described. The main cable is positioned in contact with the Wire seat 15, whereupon the closing member 61 is pivoted around the hinge pin 64 until the hole 68 in the closing member and the holes 63 in the U-shaped member 60 are in alignment. The pin '|0 is then inserted through the holes 63 and 68 so that the frame is closed. The Wire connector hangs upon the main cable and both hands of the electrician are free for further assembly of the wire connector. A tap-off wire tc is then inserted between the wire seats I6 and 84 if parallel tap-oh' with respect to the main cable is desired, or between seats 'l1 and 85 if right angular tap-off is desired. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the tap-off wire tc in right angular tap-off relation with the main cable C. Upon tightening of the operating screw 82 the clamping plate 83 moves toward the other end of the frame so that the main cable C is clamped between the wire spacer 'I4 and the closing member 61 and a tap-off wire or cable tc is clamped between the clamping plate 83 and the wire spacer 14. The wire spacer is free to adjust itself to any mashing or compression of the main cable and hence tends to iioat within the wire connector.

It will be observed that when the wires or cables are clamped within the wire connector, the clamping pressure of the operating screw 82 presses against the Wire seat 69, or the hinged closing member 61, and tends to press it outwardly but is restrained therefrom by the locking pin '|0. This pressure, tending to press the closing member outwardly, tightly clamps vthe locking pin 10 within the holes 63 and 68 so that the pin is locked in the holes against inadvertent or accidental removal, and hence unloosening of the cables or Wires within the wire connector is prevented.

In the third form of the invention niustrated in Figures 12 through 16, a U-shaped memberY has a wire set 9| at the bottom thereof.. One of the sides of the U-shapedmember has a double hinge pin bearing 93 which carries a hinge pin 92 adjacent to the open end of the U-shaped member.

The hinge pin 92 pivotally supports a closing member so that it is movable towards and away from closed position over the open end of the U-shaped member 90. The closing member is illustrated in closed position in Figure 15. The closing member has a Wire seat 96, in the form of a groove of small diameter, to receive a small tap-off wire. The U-shaped member 90 and the closing member 95 together form a wire receiving frame. Projections 91 extend outwardly from the wire seat 96 on each side and at., each end thereof to assure the retention of the wire upon the wireseat.

A wire spacer 99 is narrow at one end thereof and broad at the other end. The narrow end is hingedly mounted upon the hinge pin 92 for movement towards and away from the wire seat 9| carried by the U-shaped member 90. The wire spacer has a wire seat |00 upon one side thereof which faces towards the wire seat 9| when the wire spacer is pivoted into the U- shaped member. The wire seats 9| and |00 cooperate with each other to clamp a cable or wire therebetween. A second wire seat |0| is provided upon the other side of the Wire spacer and in the broad end thereof, which wire seat is adapted to cooperate with the wire seat 96 upon the closing member 95 to clamp a wire therebetween. The wire spacer 99 has a relatively nar- U-shaped member.

row support on the hinge pin 92 because the closing member is also mounted upon the same hinge pin, but the wire spacer widens out adjacent its free end in order to form a wire seat |0| which is as long as the wire connector is wide and hence assures firm clamping of a wire.

Operating means is provided to simultaneously clamp two wires, or a wire and cable, within the wire connector. This operating means includes a bolt or screw |04 which passes through a recess or hole |05 in the closing member 95 and is received in a threaded hole |06 in a side of the U-shaped member 90.

In order to clamp the wires or cables within the wire connector shown in Figures 12 through 16, the main cable C has the insulation removed therefrom at a desired point. The operating bolt |04 is then removed from the wire connector, and the closing member 95 and the Wire spacer 99 are pivoted to full open position, as shown in Figure 12, so that the cable, where the insulation has been removed, may be inserted into the U-shaped member 90 and in contact with the seat 9|. The wire spacer 99 is then pivoted into position within the U-shaped member until the wire seat |00 engages the cable. The closing member 95 is then hinged into closed position over the open end of the U-shaped member and the operating means or bolt |04 is inserted through the hole |05 in the closing member 95 and threaded into the threaded hole |06 in the The wire connector now hangs upon the main cable and no part thereof can be dropped. Also both hands of the operator are free' for insertion of the tap-off wire. The tap-off wire tc is next inserted between the wire seats 96 and |0| and held therein by the operator with one hand While he tightens the operating screw or bolt |04 with the other hand. Tightening of the bolt clamps the tap-off wire tc between the Wire seats 96 and |0| and the cable or Wire C between the wire seats 9| and |00.

It will be noted that the cable C is engaged by the wire spacer 95 about midpoint between the hinge pin 92 and the application of the clamping force at the center of the operating bolt |04, so that the clamping pressure upon the large diameter cable is about 2 to 1. The smaller diameter wire W, however, is adjacent to the operating bolt |04 so that it is-subjected to aleverage only slightly greater than 1 to 1. By

ceives a considerably higher clamping effort or pressure, whereas the smaller and more easily compressed wire or cable tc receives a substantially less clamping pressure. This result is obtained even though a single operating bolt is used.

This invention is presented to ll a need for improvements in a wire connector. It is understood that various modifications in structure, as well aschanges in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefiting from the teachings of an invention. Hence it will be understood that this disclosure is illustrative of preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form by explaining the construction, operation and advantages thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire connector comprising a wire receiving frame including means forming a U-shaped member,v a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be hingedly closed there- 75 over, means upon the U-shaped member and the closingamember to retain the latter in closed position over the open side of the U-shaped member, and a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped; a wire spacer having a wire seat on opposite sides thereof each of which is adapted to engage a wire, means to retain the wire spacer within the frame and being movable towards and away from the wire clamping seat carried by the frame; and operating means carried by the frame to clamp two wires within the frame with the wire spacer between the wires.

2. A wire connector comprising` a frame including means forming a U-shaped member, a closing member hingedly secured to the U- shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be closed thereover, means upon the U-shaped member and the closing member to retain the latter in closed position over the open side of the U-shaped member, and a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped; a` wire spacer having a wire seat on opposite sides 4thereof each of which is adapted to engage a wire; means upon the wire spacer and the frame to irremovably retain the former within the frame and for movement towards and away from the wire clamping seat carried by the frame; and operating means carried by the frame to clamp two wires within the frame with the wire spacer between the wires.

3. A wire connector comprising a` frame including three members one of which is an L- shaped member, the three members being hinged together and providing` two free ends which can be closed to form a substantially rectangular frame and opened for the insertion of a wire or wires therein, locking means upon the free ends of the frame to retain the ends in closed position and locking the ends in closed position upon clamping of the wires therein, a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped, and operating means'carried by the frame and extending thereinto to clamp at least one wire against the wire seat and to lock the locking means against separation.

4. A wire connector comprising a frame including an L-shaped member, a side member hinged thereto for movement towards and away from a position substantially parallel tothe side of the L-shaped member to form a U-shaped member, a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be hingedly closed thereover, means upon the U-shaped member and the closing member to retain the latter in closed position over the open end of the U-shaped member and locking the closing member in closed position upon clamping of the wires therein, a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped, and operating means carried by the frame and extending thereinto to clamp at least one wire therein.

5. A wire connector comprising a frame including an L-shaped member, a side member hinged thereto for movement towards and away from a position substantially parallel to the side of the L-shaped member to form a U-shaped member, a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be hingedly closed thereover, means upon the U-shaped member and the closing member to retain the latter in closed position over the open side of the U-shaped member and locking the closing member in closed position upon clamping of the wires therein including a bar upon the U-shaped member and a latch upon the closing member engaging the bar, a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped, and operating means carried by the frame and extending thereinto to clamp at least one wire therein.

6. A wire connector comprising a frame including an L-shaped member, a side member hinged thereto for movement towards and away from a position substantially parallel to the side of the L-shaped member to form a U-shaped member, a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be hingedly closed thereover, means upon the U-shaped member and the closing member to retain the latter in closed position over the open side of the U-shaped member and locking the closing member in closed position upon clamping of the wires therein, and a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped; a Wire spacer having a Wire seat on opposite sides thereof each of which is adapted to engage a wire, means irremovably retaining the Wire spacer within the frame and for movement towards and away from the wire clamping seat carried by the frame; and operating means carried by the frame and extending thereinto to clamp one wire between the frame clamping seat and' the wire spacer and a second wire between the operating means and the wire spacer.

7. A wire connector comprising a frame including an L-shaped member, a side member hinged thereto for movement towards and away from a position substantially parallel to the side of the L-shaped member to form a U-shaped member, a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be hingedly closed thereover, means upon the U-shaped member and the closing member to retain the latter in closed position over the open side of the U-shaped member and locking the closing member in closed position upon clamping of the wires therein, a

slot in at least one of the sides of the U-shaped member, and a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped; a wire spacer having a wire seat on opposite sides thereof each of which is adapted to engage a wire, the wire spacer projecting through the slot in the side of the U-shaped member and having projecting ears to irremovably retain the wire spacer within the frame and for movement towards and away from the wire clamping seat carried by the frame; and operating means carried by the frame and extending thereinto to clamp one wire between`the frame clamping seat and the wire spacer and a second wire between the operating means and the wire spacer.

8. A wire connector comprising a frame including an L-shaped member, a side member hinged thereto for movement towards and away from a position substantially parallel to the side ofthe L-shaped member to form a U-shaped member, a stop upon the side'member to prevent pivotal movement past a substantially parallel position, a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be hingedly 'closed there- 75 over, means upon the U-shaped member and the closing member to retain the latter in closed position over the open side of the U-shaped member and locking the closing member in closed position upon clamping of the wires therein, and a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped; a wire spacer movably retained within the frame between the L-shaped member and the side member; and operating means carried by the frame and extending thereinto to clamp at least one wire therein.

9. A wire connector comprising a frame including a U-shaped member, a slot in at lfeast one side of the U-shaped member extending from the open end of the U-shaped member, a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent to the open end thereof so that it can be pivoted thereover to close the end of the slot, means upon the U-shaped member and the closing member to retain the latter in closed position over the open end of the U-shaped member, a wire clamping seat upon one of the members against which a wire is adapted to be clamped, a wire spacer received within the U- shaped member having a projection which extends into the slot and a dimension which prevents substantial cocking therewithin but permits movement towards and away from the wire clamping seat whereby the wire spacer is irremovably retained in the frame when the ciosing member is hingedly secured to the U-shaped member, and operating means carried by the frame and extending thereinto to clamp two wires therein.

10. A wire connector comprising a frame inciuding a U-shaped member having a wire clamping seat against which a wire is adapted to be clamped, and a closing member hingedly secured to the U-shaped member adjacent the open end thereof; a wire spacer having a wire seat on opposite sides thereof each of which is adapted to engage a wire, the wire spacer being hingedly secured within the frame for movement towards and away from the wire clamping seat carried by the U-shaped member; and operating means carried by the frame to retain the closing member in closed position over the open end oi' the U-shaped member and to clamp two wires within the frame with the wire spacer therebetween.

11. A wire connector comprising a frame including a U-shaped member having a wire clamping seat against which a wire is adapted to be clamped, a closing member, and means to hingedly mount the closing member upon the U- shaped member adjacent theopen end thereof; a wire spacer having a wire seat on opposite sides thereof each of which is adapted to engage a wire, the wire spacer being carried by the hinge means for the closing member for movement to-f wards and away from the wire clamping seat carried by the U-shaped member; and operating means carried by the frame to retain the closing member in closed position over the open end of the U-shaped member and to clamp two wires within the frame with the wire spacer therebetween.

12. A wire connector comprising a frame including a U-shaped member havingl a Wire clamping seat against which a wire is adapted to be clamped, a closing member having a wire seat upon the inner side thereof, and means to hingedly mount the closing member to the U-shaped member adjacent the open end thereof; a wire spacer which is narrow at one end thereof and broad at the other end thereof, the wire spacer being carried upon the narrow end thereof by the hinge means for the closing member for movement towards and away from the wire clamping seat carried by the U-shaped member, a wire seat on one side thereof which is adapted to cooperate with the wire seat of the U-shaped member to clamp a wire therebetween, a wire seat upon the other sidethereof in the broad end thereof which is adapted to cooperate with the wire seat upon the closing member to clamp a wire therebetween, and an operating bolt carried by the U-shaped member in the side thereof opposite from the hinge means to retain the closing member in closed position over the open end of the U-shaped member and to clamp two Wires within the frame with the wire spacer therebetween.

MARTIN D. BERGAN. 

